Kagura Hearts, Chapter 71
,Chapter 71 ~ Castle InvasionA few minutes passed as Sora explained the situation to Elsa while Anna nudged Olaf back outside. After learning of Sora’s reason for a Halo above his head, Elsa could only remark at the situation…“...so you’re a Slave…summoned to follow your orders until they’re completed in this…other world?” Elsa asked. Sora nodded, “Yes. So for now, I’m…I’m still me, I’m just d-.”“HOLD ON THERE, SUNSHINE!” Anna said. As Sora wondered why Anna interrupted, she explained, “You SHOULDN’T consider yourself ‘Dead’, dude! You’re breathing, you're worried for others, you’re capable of fighting and laughing with the best of us. I’d say you’re still Alive and well and nothing has changed…not to me, at least. You just happened to have been given a job so you can keep that heartbeat in your chest. And while you’re ‘leashed’ with the Halo, you ARE still alive and well, and it will be official until you’ve carried out your job as a Guardian Angel.”Sora chuckled and said, “I wish I stuck around longer in my first visit to hear a pep-talk from you sooner. I would’ve needed that. Thank you, Anna.” Elsa nodded and said, “She’s just that kind of person…always trying to liven up a room. Still, this isn’t a good time to reminisce. I’m afraid I must ask you both to leave.”Sora then said, “If it’s about your powers, then you should know what’s happened thanks t-...n-no, the truth is, Arendelle is suffering from some endless blizzard. Anna and I came here not only to bring you home, but also to ask you to try and despell your spell.” Anna nodded and said, “Don’t feel too bad though, if you can’t control your powers yet, then we can help you.”Elsa shook her head and said, “...my ‘Power’? At this point, you guys should consider this a ‘Curse’ rather than simply Power. Anna, the Ice I command isn’t something I can just ‘control’, it’s beyond me…taking a hold of me the more I feel. I ran away from my kingdom because these emotions, these feelings, they seem to be the reason for such things like the Blizzard in the first place. It’s hard to accept…but Anna, you and the kingdom are better off without me.”Elsa then walked away and went up the stairs to the next floor. Sora then said, “She’s not coming down this mountain…” Anna then said, “She IS coming down, and we’re NOT leaving without her! You wait here, this is between sisters.”But, just before Anna went up, she walked back over to Sora and hugged him!She then said, “Remember, you’re Alive, NOT a simple puppet for someone else. Please wait here, and if anything happens you RUN. I love my sister, but I don’t want you or Kris getting hurt because of me.” Sora however said, “...Princess, the Keyblade is somehow connected to Arendelle, so I’ll stay by you and Elsa’s side no matter what! We’re a team.”Anna smiled and patted her friend on the shoulder while saying, “Beautiful words from a beautiful heart! I’ll be down in a few seconds, bud. You can count on me!” Anna then went up after Elsa while Sora smiled confidently while saying, “...good luck Princess…and try to stay safe…”Sora then recalled what happened to Anna later, when Kris told him Anna was struck by Elsa’s magic, and only an act of True Love could warm the coldest winters…Sora however said, “Whether I’m in the Past or the Present, I want to believe in them…but I’m still worried…”“Aww, how sweet, the puny pipsqueak’s still a softy when it comes to the ladies. Unfortunately for you, you’re bowing OUT of this show!” Pete said as he popped out of a Black Portal.“(sigh) Are you allergic to doors, Pete?” Sora asked.Pete then answered, “I’ll have you know, bad guys NEVER use the door! (evil laughter)”Sora then asked, “You’re here for the Black Box, aren’t you?” Pete nodded, “Of course! And once I get the kingdom under my control, miners, woodsmen, and diggers-alike will tear this land up like an apple-core until we find that box!” Sora then asked, “What makes you think the box is here at all? Did Maleficent tell you to wreck this world too?”Pete crossed his arms and said, “For your information, ‘Shorty’, we already have a location pin-pointed! And-...say…something’s different about ya. Where are the King’s OTHER Dillweeds? Yer usually with the duck and the dog, but here ya are, alone and-...hmm, I can see you’re stronger than the last time I saw you. As if it took a whole adventure for ya to reach my Mightiness!” Sora chuckled and said, “Poor guy, as fun as it would be to tell you all about it, I honestly can’t see you as anything but a trouble-maker. So here’s some advice: Leave the Princess and the Queen alone, or answer to me.”Pete laughed and said, “Oh-HO, a lonely Key-brat thinks he can beat the new and improved Pete?! I guess a little instruction is in order for ya, ‘Rookie’! And since I see no Masters, I’ll gladly be the Teacher and Grade your butt back a few grades!”Pete then threw the first punch, but Sora blocked his fist with the Keyblade, and then countered by sending Pete colliding against a wall! Sora then charged and gave Pete a good beating until Pete pounded the floor, pushing Sora back with a shockwave while summoning a shield while flying above him!“I was spared a hideous fate in exchange for the lovely ladies of Arendelle, and I ain’t gonna go back empty-handed!” Pete said as he created and sent out several Magic Bombs around the area, forcing Sora to try and avoid them as the mere touch of these timed terrors could set off an explosive reaction!Sora then asked, “Wait, who spared you in the first place?” Pete then answered, “Like I’d tell you, PIPSQUEAK!” Pete then threw a giant bomb Sora’s way, but fortunately, the Keybearer was able to knock the bomb back at Pete, destroying his shield and making him vulnerable for another attack!Meanwhile, back upstairs, Elsa and Anna heard the fight from under them, making Anna realize, “Something’s wrong. Elsa, somebody’s down there, attacking Sora!” Elsa then said, “Maybe it’s the mountain-climber you two hired?” Anna shook her head and said, “Kristoff isn’t the type who would backstab a friend!” Elsa then said, “Oh sure, because YOU know him ‘SO WELL’, just like this ‘Hans’ guy!”Anna then confessed, “This isn’t about Hans! Kris helped us up the mountain for 2 days tops, that right there is a loyal and hard-working person, even if he’s another guy who doubts Hans’ love for me, I’d still vouch for such a friend just as much as I’d vouch for you, my family!”“-But I am NOT your family, Anna, I’m your worst nightmare! And the only way you can live a nice and normal life is if you stay away from me! Up here, Arendelle is safe, no matter the storm! It’s people, it’s kingdom…you…you’ll all be safe without me OR my powers!”Anna however said, “But Elsa, don’t you see? Your neglect is WHY there’s a blizzard in the kingdom! It’s because you’re refusing to control your power, you’re letting it control YOU! But I am here to tell you YOU are the one in control of your power AND your life! It’s not the other way around, and I can help you understand! WE can understand this power, together!” Elsa however yelled, “You can’t understand, Elsa, NOBODY CAN! This power is dangerous, and the farther I am from you, the safer you’ll be!”Anna then said, “But you’re not fixing the problem by running Elsa! You’re just running even more! Stop running from who you are and what you have! You have me, you have the support of Arendelle, you even have the power to use cold snow and ice! You are Queen Elsa, my dear sister, and YOU CAN CONTROL-!”“I CAN’T!!!” Elsa screamed, unintentionally releasing magical balms of cold sorcery all around her…Back downstairs, Sora heard a rumbling from where Elsa and Anna were, and ran from Pete! Sora then yelled, “KRIS, COME IN, QUICKLY!!! ANNA’S IN TROUBLE!!!” Kris’s ears heard Sora’s call and beckoned him to answer, and as he entered the castle, the Past Sora, Donald, and Goofy had just reached the castle, seeing none around them…As they ran up the stairs, Kris asked, “...mind explaining the cat-man down there?!” Sora then answered, “His name is Pete, he’s bad news, but not as bad as whatever’s happening to-!” As soon as Sora opened the door, he and Kris were shocked to see Anna, lying on the floor, while Elsa looked at her in shock…“-ANNA!” Kris hurried over to Anna to check her heartbeat, until Anna opened her eyes and patted Kris on the shoulder while saying, “I’m fine, Kris, j-just a little-.”“-cold.” Sora said.As Kris helped the dazed Anna on her feet, Sora said, “...Kris, take Anna somewhere she can get answers. Anything about being struck in the heart with Elsa’s ice. If you know ANYONE, please hurry!” As Elsa looked at Sora in a confused shock, Kris said, “I think I know where to go. The Valley of the Hidden Rock. If anyone can help Anna, it’s Pabbie, grand elder of the Trolls.” Sora then said, Get Anna there and fast! There’s a good chance this elder can help her!”Kris then asked, “Wait, what about you-...and the other you?” Sora answered, “He, Donald, and Goofy have other things to worry about, but I’ll be right behind you when I can.”Elsa however said, “I struck-...I did this to Anna…I warned her…” Sora then said, “You’re not the bad guy, Elsa, you were just scared! Anna was right though, you CAN control your powers!” Elsa shook her head and said, “She trusts people too quickly, even this…this stranger here, can’t be trusted!” Sora then said, “Yes he can! I promise you, no one here is your enemy, not Kris, and DEFINITELY not Anna!”Elsa then said, “I DON’T CARE! I made my choice, I’m staying here, and you’re…all…LEAVING!”Minutes later…Elsa used her magic to create ANOTHER snowman, this one was more of a giant bouncer, and was in fact the same snow monster Sora met in the past, Marshmallow. The giant grabbed Kris and Anna and carried them away. Elsa then said, “Take them out of my home, Marshmallow, my sister and her ‘woodsman’ first. I still have a few questions for this boy from the future.” Marshmallow nodded while Anna yelled, “S-SORA!” Sora then said, “DON’T WORRY ANNA! FOLLOW KRIS, AND FIND THE TROLLS! IT’S UP TO YOU TWO NOW!”As Marshmallow left, Elsa walked over to Sora and grabbed him by the collar of his hood and said, “If you came from the future, then YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SISTER?!!!” Sora answered, “...your highness…Anna might be in trouble. The ice you released shot her heart…and if an act of True Love doesn’t save her…she’ll die.”“What?! I…I…” Elsa panicked and broke down in shock while Sora kneeled to her and said, “In the past, Kris told me what happened, after the trolls told him and Anna. True Love is the key to saving her life…but Elsa, Anna won’t be getting it the way she thinks.” Elsa then asked, “W-what are you-?!” Sora then explained, “Anna’s crush, Hans, when I first saw him in the past, he was fuming with an evil mist, something inside of him festerred…and even now, I’m worried Hans is-!”“-Not…entirely…honest?”“-HANS?!!!”Unsheathing his sword, Prince Hans walked into the room with the Duke of Weselton’s two bodyguards in Pete’s clutches!Pete then said, “I’m almost surprised you wanted my help in this at all, ‘your highness’. Weren’t the knights and these two you came with earlier enough?” Hans answered, “They answer to a Superstitious Simpleton. They could NEVER be convinced to side with me. You on the other hand…I’m surprised your services were available, given the mass Heartless you could have used to stop me.” Pete then confessed, “You had a sword to my neck, it wasn’t like I had much choice!” Hans then said, “Well then…let’s put this Darkness of yours to the test, shall we?” Hans asked.Elsa then said, “You never loved Anna…you…you were trying to take Arendelle for yourself!” Hans then said, “Come now, ‘your majesty’. Are you REALLY so angry at me for keeping secrets? Let’s not forget how YOU kept secrets from your own sister. Whatever the poor girl’s fate, I’m sure she’d just die if she heard you succumbed to your own weaknesses, becoming the monster the duke back home thinks you are. Of course, the REAL reason could just stay between us…right, Sora?”Sora summoned his Keyblade, and as he did, Hans did indeed begin to release fumes of Darkness. As he did, Sora said, “So those fumes I saw earlier…Pete must have granted you the power of Darkness, to control the Heartless…and kidnap Elsa with ease.” Hans smiled and said, “And with the hearts of her ‘dear knights’ devoured already, I have enough hearts to do…THIS.”Hans then snapped his fingers, and the two bodyguards of the Duke were immediately writhing in agony while their bodies were consumed in Darkness!Pete trembled in horror while Hans explained, “With such power at my disposal, even my brothers in the Southern Isles will have to acknowledge me as their greater sibling. But first, I think I’ll take Arendelle now…while you can stay here, out of the way…forever.”Hans snapped his fingers once more, suddenly knocking Elsa unconscious while Sora was grabbed by the throat by the treacherous Prince, and tossed into a portal of Darkness!End of Chapter 71
4xEyes1987